Hello all... has anyone had any experience with electric trunk openers?? I'd like to put one in my
'32 Ford Roadster (glass body). I hope to NOT have any latch or cable release or gas struts etc. on the trunk. Just have the opener open & close the trunk lid on it's own with a switch inside the car or maybe
a remote..

Thanks in advance for any advice!!
--
Hotrods forever...

I was thinking of putting one on my highboy,kinda pricey but I think Ball's Hot Rods has them.Good luck

How 'bout a window lift motor and regulater from a car that has a fan gear type mech? I have one in my Hawk and it works slick. The trunk is steel too. Hell I even open my reverse hinged hood with one. Jeep cheroke has a nice small motor too. Dave
--
Life's too short to drive an ughly car!

GM cars have that style and are real cheap in the bone yards, You might even find for nothing in a abandend car.
--
Life is what happens while your making other plans.

Just a word of caution..if you ever lose your electric power you won't be able to get in it! I'd suggest a hidden emergency release (just in case).
--
Is it funny yet?

Charter Member: Dipstick Street Rod Association

Amen on the manual release. I lost my solenoid in Kansas last summer on the tour to Columbus in 107 degree heat & it took us an hour to get into the trunk.

See we TOLD you not to lock the kids in there!!
--
Is it funny yet?

Charter Member: Dipstick Street Rod Association

I posted this before so check out the archives, but get a drivers side cutlass supreme window motor & regulator, napa switch p/n#730-3377 echlin p/n cb-6317 connectors p/n# 784481, 20'# 14 wire got all my parts from napa.Two pieces of 1x6 about 3' long. Mount the 1x6 onto metal trunk supports , mount motor®ulator to boards,have the arm facing to the rear . Make a rod to connect from trunk to regulator arm.Need a U shaped piece on the trunk & the rod needs to be adjustable w/a small heim joint @ the regulator connection. It works like your arm. If you need more e-mail me B-O-B
--
Smoke um if ya got um
Burn Out Bob DSRA member

Check out the one sold by Yogi. I have one ready to install in my '32, and after looking at several, I chose his. It is based on an electric window unit. A friend of mine used one in his '32 several years ago and said he liked it. If you want to spend more money, Balls has a nice one, too.
--
Lynn
'32 3W

Whatever you use (home made or aftermarket) make sure you have some sort of positive stop or adjustable kill switch on the unit itself. Power units can warp or even crack fiberglass deck lids.
--
Digger
-----
DSRA Member

I threw it away yesterday, now I have to go buy one

Check out Scooters site www.project33.com for how to install a downs operator.
http://www.project33.com/article.cfm?ID=220 There are 4 articles on the installation of it. Put one in my 34 coupe and works slick and is a nice clean install. You only have a hole for the operator shaft coming thru the trunk upholstery and not a long slot like some of the others on the market.

Thanks for all the advice & comments!! Now I've got my work cut out for me in choosing the
best way to go.

Hey, 34ford... that website will come in real handy if I use the Downs lift.

burn out bob... I'm gonna take a closer look at the trunk area to see what steel structure there is to mount the 1x6's to. a couple of questions... how much space does the window motor setup take in the trunk area? also is there a keyword or something to search the archives with? I haven't used the archive thing yet! Oh, one more thing... any particular year of cutlass supreme I would look for?

thanks again all for the great help!!
--
Hotrods forever...

Got mine out of a 94 . I spect any year around that area. It doesn't take much room. I put paneling for sides then covered it w/vinyl. There is a small hole where the arm comes thru. I took a 6" plastic lid ,covered it w/vinyl. I covers most of the arm . I had to cut the arm in two. Welded a splice , drilled
--
Smoke um if ya got um
Burn Out Bob DSRA member